23-2011

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Role Overview

Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action. Excludes “Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants” (43-6012).

Recommended Majors

Legal Studies. Legal Assistant/Paralegal.

Related Careers

Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates Judges, Magistrates, and Other Judicial Workers Judicial Law Clerks Lawyers

Salary by State (top paying)

State	Median salary
District of Columbia	$99,300
Washington	$78,010
Massachusetts	$74,990
Colorado	$73,380
California	$72,960
Minnesota	$67,320
New York	$66,390
Oregon	$63,970
Maryland	$63,560
Connecticut	$63,260
Vermont	$63,000
New Jersey	$62,790
Illinois	$62,290
Nevada	$62,090
Michigan	$61,490

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for this career?

Projected growth and annual openings are from BLS Employment Projections. Use the sidebar for median salary and growth rate.

How does salary vary by state?

See the Salary by State table above for state-level median wages from OEWS data.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), BLS Employment Projections.

Median Annual Salary

$61,010

Projected Growth (10yr)

+0.2%

Avg. annual openings

39.3k

Market Insight

Explore salary and growth data to understand demand and earning potential for this role.